Internal: Viperpath (volume 1)

(36) Hitting the Trail

Another new day was already beginning.

Even as Mama Viper was basking at her success in gaining another, no-less-formidable adherent to her cause, Rashid and his true brother were having a discussion of their own in the moments before the beginning of the the latter's first class (calligraphy, for that day) at school.

"I always wanna know something, Akhi," the middle prince began, his tone pensive. "You see... Mom, Big Sis Lei and Zal, our friends in this school and out, even Lady Mirani... all seem to look up to you. How do you really feel about all that attention, I do sometimes wonder... Excited? Exasperated? Or... what?"

"Good question." The Lion Prince pursed his lips and pulled both of his own fists in thought, squishing his face slightly. "Maybe... just maybe... that comes with my being the firstborn? That way, in so many's minds, I might be the first to turn to when Dad's not around. Still, if I'm completely honest with myself... yeah, that could be rather overbearing." He gave a resigned smile, which his true brother did not miss. "Got stuff of my own to do at the end of the day, and just not enough time to get them done. Gonna grow worse as we grow up, I'll wager."

"Wow... Didn't think of it like that," Ras observed with sympathy-tinged wonder. "That said, you do seem to get by just fine! I kinda envy you for that too, you know. That kinda composure... Me, on the other hand, I may not thus far have played as big a part here as I'd like to fancy-"

Mu looked at him. "We both know that's not true."

"Is it? Just think. Almost everything worth telling's gonna be credited to you or Zal in the end, believe it or not... and it's frustrating! It's like... no matter how decently I perform, I feel there are gonna be whispers of 'oh, Mustafa could've done that way better', or something along those lines..." Rashid looked away for a few seconds, his mouth a tight line. "I... worry that I'd be known only as your shade, Akhi; a side show at best..."

"You're not that, sweet brother," Mu patted him on the shoulder. "You're your own person, keep that well in mind. This too: I don't waste time thinking whether I'd get people's attention when I help them out; that may be why they come to really notice me. Get it?"

"I-I see... Sounds fair. And if I really wanna help out, like, sometime later today... do you have any idea where best to start?"

"Let's see. Why don't we go get ourselves some snacks after school, your treat for a change? I heard there's this bread stall a short walk down the western lane."

"Nay, that one's closed for some time now. Why not try that stall offering seasoned quails' eggs on skewers near the school's back exit instead?"

The Lion Prince licked his own lip. "Sounds yummy. Oh, and don't forget to ask the rest of our siblings--not so often they're getting a treat from anyone other than myself. Now... you best run along. Class is starting already. Have a great one."

The middle prince beamed. "You too! Take care!"

***

At about that same time, in Zal's class...

The Little Viper was staring blankly at three square papers with different colors before her that she was supposed to fold and shape to be paper storks within the next hour--an hourglass was placed in the front of each table for emphasis.

By then, about fifteen minutes had elapsed already.

Three desks to her front, Lei was already one-third done; her sibling could even catch definite whispers of admiration at the results.